Faculty of Science Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs)

• Overview of awards
• Eligibility
• Potential supervisors
• Application process
• Awards value
• Contact us

Awards list

There are seven different types of awards for which you may apply:

• NSERC
• NSERC Indigenous
• NSERC Black student researchers
• Faculty of Science Undergraduate Student Research Award
• The Jack Prior Memorial Undergraduate Summer Research Prize
• H.D. Gesser Undergraduate Summer Research Prize in Chemistry
• Philip Hultin Pedagogy Fund

Important notes

• The awards described here are for students to work with Faculty of Science supervisors only. If you wish to work with a researcher at the Max Rady College of Medicine or any other Faculty, please ask directly through their respective Faculty offices.
• Please note that you can apply to more than one Faculty/College (that is Faculty of Science, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Price Faculty of Engineering and Max Rady College of Medicine), but not to 2 supervisors in the same Faculty/College.

Timeline

Your summer research position will be for 16 consecutive weeks beginning in May and ending the last week of August.

The duration of the NSERC, NSERC Indigenous, Faculty of Science USRA, H.D. Gesser USR Prize in Chemistry and Jack Prior Memorial USR Prize is 16 consecutive weeks. If a supervisor wishes to extend this period, the difference will have to be provided by the supervisor’s grant(s).

If you wish to take summer courses, please discuss this with your potential supervisor before applying for an award.

Location of tenure

Students undertake their research projects through any department in the Faculty of Science.

Expected work

You will be working daily hours equivalent to a full-time job and the hours you work will be determined by your supervisor.

Professional workshop and poster competition

All award recipients are expected to participate in the Faculty of Science lunch hour professional workshops (a minimum of 4 over the summer term) which can work in conjunction with the SURE program. Students will have the opportunity to compete in an end-of-summer term poster competition.

Cumulative GPA

• NSERC, NSERC Black student researchers, the Jack Prior Memorial USR Prize and H.D. Gesser USR Prize in Chemistry applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
• NSERC Indigenous and Faculty of Science USRA applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Credit and course load

• At the time of application in January, students must have completed at least 24 credit hours in a bachelor's program within the year immediately before applying (spanning January to December). Students in their first year would need to have been registered full-time in the Summer Term and full-time in the Fall Term in order to be eligible.
  Academic Terms:
  • Summer Term, May to August
  • Fall Term, September to December
  • Winter Term, January to April
• At the time of application, students must be registered with an at least 80% course load (24 credit hours) across the Fall and Winter Terms, in any bachelor’s degree program in the Faculty of Science.

Departments

• Students may undertake their research project through any department in the Faculty of Science and must be engaged on a full-time basis in research and development activities.

Programs

• The Jack Prior Memorial USR Prize requires students to be registered in a Faculty of Science Major or Honours program and their eligibility is evaluated on their GPA and their previous or ongoing community involvement and/or leadership experience.
• H.D Gesser USR Prize in Chemistry require students to be registered in a Faculty of Science Chemistry or Biochemistry Major or Honours program.

Holding USRAs throughout your degree

• Students may hold only one university USRA per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).
• Students may hold a maximum of three USRA awards (NSERC or Faculty of Science) throughout their university career.

Supervisors

• New: Supervisors of NSERC, NSERC Indigenous or NSERC Black student researchers award recipients do not have to be NSERC holders themselves.
• Supervisors for the Faculty of Science USRA, H.D. Gesser USR Prize in Chemistry, Jack Prior Memorial USR Prize, or Phil Hultin Pedagogy Fund must hold an appointment in the Faculty of Science.

Co-op students

• Science Co-op students are eligible to apply for a Faculty of Science USRA (not an NSERC), including during their co-op work term.
• Co-op students are required to maintain an 80% course load during academic terms. Co-op work terms are considered full-time.

Enrollment and graduation

• A student in their final year with a declared graduation date must be registered in a minimum 60% course load (18 credit hours) to be eligible.
• Students who complete their degree requirements in December rather than April are eligible to hold a Faculty of Science award in the summer following their final term, but they must be registered and paying fees for the Winter Term (January to April) immediately prior to holding the award.
• Students who intend to graduate in the Winter Term 2025 are not eligible.
• Students who have applied or will be applying to the Faculty of Graduate Studies are eligible but must not have started their graduate program before the USRA work period has ended.
• Students with a General Science degree are eligible for the FoS USRA.

Students from universities other than UM

• Students from other universities who have supervisors holding an appointment in the Faculty of Science are only eligible for the NSERC, NSERC Indigenous or NSERC Black student researchers awards.

Second degree

• Students already in possession of a bachelor’s degree who are studying towards a second bachelor’s degree are eligible to hold NSERC, NSERC Indigenous or a Faculty of Science award, provided they do not hold a higher degree (MSc or PhD) in the natural sciences.

Selection of students

• Ranking will be based on Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) for NSERC, NSERC Indigenous and NSERC Black student researchers awards.
• Faculty of Science USRA and the H.D. Gesser USR Prize in Chemistry will be ranked by the department and other factors, including seniority and choice of programs, may be considered.
• The Jack Prior Memorial USR Prize is selected by the Prior family.